Improvement in game-counters



J. WHITELAW. Game-Counters.

Patented Jan. 23,1878.v

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MLPEYERSA PHOTO-LHHOGRAPNER WASHINGTOND C,

UNITEDy g STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WHITELAW, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

, IMPROVEMENT 1N GAME-COUNTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 199,130, dated January 8, 187B; application filed November 17, 1877.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN WHITELAW, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game-Counters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to a device for counting the points in a game, and at the same time, if necessary, indicating what is the trump.

In the drawings, Figure lis a view, in crosssection, of a device according to my invention 5 and Fig. 2, a plan view of the same.

This invention consists ofthe following parts and combinations, substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed, wherein- A is a base-plate; B,.a plate resting upon plate A; C, a plate resting upon plate B, and D a pointer or indicator above plate C. All the parts, A B C D, are Ljoined by and revolve upon a central pin or pivot, E.

From the plate A projects an indicator, A', which is made to turn up and over upon the upper face of plate B, and to point to numerals igured upon the outer or peripheral portion of the face of the plate B. These numerals (as well as the second set of numerals, hereinafter to be mentioned) may embrace from zero to five, ten, or upward. This outer circle of numerals surrounds an inner circle of similar numerals, and the inner circle is covered over by the plate C, which plate is provided with a notch or opening, C1, through which any one gure of the said inner circle of numerals may be brought to view by rotating said plate C. This plate is also provided -with a lug or projection, C2, that serves the purposes of a handle to rotate said plate.

Upon the upper face of the plate C are formed the iigures indicating the trumpsspades, hearts, clubs, and diamonds. Instead of these characters or gures, the initial letters S, H, C, and D may stand for the several trumps. The pointer or indicator D may be made to indicate what is the trump by being directed toward the suit-able character upon the plate C.

The use and operation of my device are readily seen. If but one device is used by two sides at a game, one side may employ the indicator A and the outer circle of numerals to count with, and the other side employ the inner circle of numerals and the plate C, while the pointer D may indicate the trump.

If each player is provided with a separate counter, he may employ one circle of numerals to count his points won, and the other circle of numerals to count games won.

I propose to put two such devices, as shown in the drawings, upon a single plate, if found desirable. I also propose, it' desired, to place the trump characters or names with the inner circle of numerals.

There may, and should, also be provided some suitable means for preventing one plate from loosely or too freely turning upon the other. They should be adapted to remain in any fixed position and relation to each other without liability to accidental or too easy change.

with trump or initial signs, and the middle plate, provided with a circle of numerals, covered by the upper plate, and adapted to separately register with an opening` formed in the face of the latter, substantially as` set forth.

3. In a game-counter, the combination of the bed-plate and its pointer, the middle plate, provided with an inner and outer circle of numerals, and the upper plate, provided with trump or initial signs, and an opening in its face adapted to register with the inner circle` ,In testimony whereof 4I have signedA my of numerals on the middle plate, the said three name to this specification in the presence Yof plates and the index-pointer on the upper two subscribing Witnesses.

plate being centrally secured together by a Y,

single pivot, substantially as set forth. JOHN WHITELAW.

4. The combination of the plates VA B C,

the indicators A' and D, and the trump signs Witnesses:

and numerals, substantially as and for the pur- F. TOUMEY,

poses herein specified. W. E. DONNELLY. 

